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The Magnificent Yankee

  • 1950
  • Approved
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
676
YOUR RATING
Louis Calhern in The Magnificent Yankee (1950)
BiographyDrama

Biography of celebrated American jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes.Biography of celebrated American jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes.Biography of celebrated American jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes.

  • Director
    • John Sturges
  • Writers
    • Emmet Lavery
    • Francis Biddle
  • Stars
    • Louis Calhern
    • Ann Harding
    • Eduard Franz
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    676
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Sturges
    • Writers
      • Emmet Lavery
      • Francis Biddle
    • Stars
      • Louis Calhern
      • Ann Harding
      • Eduard Franz
    • 17User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 3 nominations total

    Photos12

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    Top cast56

    Edit
    Louis Calhern
    Louis Calhern
    • Oliver Wendell Holmes - The Magnificent Yankee
    Ann Harding
    Ann Harding
    • Fanny Bowditch Holmes
    Eduard Franz
    Eduard Franz
    • Louis Brandeis
    Philip Ober
    Philip Ober
    • Owen Wister…
    Ian Wolfe
    Ian Wolfe
    • Adams
    Edith Evanson
    Edith Evanson
    • Annie Gough
    Herbert Anderson
    Herbert Anderson
    • Baxter
    • (as Guy Anderson)
    Richard Anderson
    Richard Anderson
    • Reynolds
    Jimmy Lydon
    Jimmy Lydon
    • Clinton
    • (as James Lydon)
    John Phillip Law
    John Phillip Law
    • Minor Role
    • (scenes deleted)
    David Alpert
    • Secretary
    • (uncredited)
    Arthur Anderson
    Arthur Anderson
    • Court Clerk
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Board
    • Secretary
    • (uncredited)
    Marshall Bradford
    Marshall Bradford
    • Headwaiter
    • (uncredited)
    Morgan Brown
    Morgan Brown
    • Justice
    • (uncredited)
    Wheaton Chambers
    Wheaton Chambers
    • Senator
    • (uncredited)
    Lyle Clark
    • Secretary
    • (uncredited)
    Dick Cogan
    Dick Cogan
    • Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Sturges
    • Writers
      • Emmet Lavery
      • Francis Biddle
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This was Louis Calhern's only lead role in a non-silent film.
    • Goofs
      When Oliver and Fanny run out of the library upon hearing the fire bells, a moving shadow of the camera and rigging is visible on the bookcase to the right.
    • Quotes

      Oliver Wendell Holmes: [to Reynolds] It's a free country. Everybody's entitled to his opinion... even the President of the United States.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story (1951)

    User reviews17

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10

    Magnificent!!

    I had never seen this film before until I saw it on TCM TV the other day. It is really an extraordinarly drama of the life of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes portrayed by Louis Calhoun and his wife played by Ann Harding, and directed by John Sturges. Judge Lewis Brandeis is played by Eduard Franz. Holmes always wanted a son and he called all 30 of his secretaries "his sons". One of the sons I recognized but just couldn't think of his name, so I looked it up; sure enough he was played by child actor Jimmy Lydon whom I always loved in films. Lydon played the part of Secretary Clinton. This truly is a well acted and enjoyable biography. Highly recommended!
    • willrams
    • Mar 5, 2003
    • Permalink

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 3, 1951 (Australia)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Man with Thirty Sons
    • Filming locations
      • Washington, District of Columbia, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $639,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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